Musical straw means



March 3, 1964 A. BARR MUSICAL STRAW MEANS Filed Jan. 28, 1963 INVEN TOR.

flA rm/Q 341W? United States Patent 3,122,959 MUSICAL S'I'RAW MEANS Arthur Barr, 2942 Shore Drive, Merrick, N.Y. Filed Jan. 28, 1963, Ser. No. 254,084 13 Claims. (Cl. 84-94) The present invention aims at providing a toy which stimulates the childs imagination and keeps his attention confined to the drinking process which is coupled with operating the music-box device according to this invention. It is an object of the invention to provide a novel device for housing a rotary-action music box or the like, adapted for being used as a toy alone, or in connection with a straw, for drinking from a bottle or glass, as will be explained in more detail hereunder.

It is another object of the invention to provide a device which is inexpensive and simple to manufacture, and which can be equipped with a music-box mechanism of optimum shape, structure and operation.

According to the major feature of the invention, the music-box device comprises two separate casing portions adapted to be interconnected by conventional means, and an intermediate sleeve portion optionally inserted between the casing portions and serving to guide a straw or the like through the device.

According to another feature, the device is provided with a neck portion adapted to fit over the rim of a glass, or into the neck of a liquid bottle or the like. The neck portion also holds the straw in appropriate place for drinking.

- Further objects and advantages of the invention will become more clearly understood when considering the following description in conjunction with the figures, in which:

l is an exploded perspective view of the components constituting a music-box device according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the assembled music-box device and is taken along line 22 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the assembled musicbox device and is taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal elevation illustrating the use of the assembled device with respect to a tumbler, such as a drinking glass;

FIG. 5 depicts the use of the invention with respect to a beverage bottle; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the assembled musicbox device showing a modification of same.

Reference is now made to FIG. 1, wherein 10 denotes a music-box device in accordance with the invention. The outer housing of device 10' is made up of matching casing portions 11 and 12. Device 10 includes a hollow tubular sleeve 13. Sleeve 13* may be made of plastic. Casings 1'1, 12 may be made from a molded material, such as a plastic. A conventional music-box mechanism 14 is housed in the housing. Music-box means 14 has a hand crank 15 adapted for rotation, whereupon the inner mechanism thereof (not shown) having an array of teeth engage tines or like sound-emitting parts as known in the art to produce a tune or a sequence of musical notes. It will be understood that for the purpose of the instant invention, music-box means 14 is representative of any similar mechanism which may have an optional shape and structure. However, in the preferred embodiment illustrated herein, music-box means 14 has a rectangular parallelepiped-shape to assure compact mounting in the housing formed by casings 11 and 12.

Casings portions 11, 12 are suit-ably shaped interior- Wise to hold music-box means 14 and also to serve as a sound amplifier to increase the amplitude level of the musical tune produced by music-box means 14. Casings 11, 12 have respective depending semi-=cylindrical neck portions 16a, 165, which are shaped edgewise to mate so as to form a tubular neck 16 upon assembly of portions 11, 12. At their respective top ends, casing portions 11, 12 also have semi-cylindrical rim portions 17a, 17b, also suitably shaped edgewise to form a continuous up standing cylindrical projection 17 upon assembly of easing portions 11, 12. The opening formed by rim 17 upon assembly of casing portions 11, 12 is vertically aligned with the central passage through the assembled housing and lower neck 16.

In the interior, the side wall of portion 12 includes spaced projecting brackets 18a, 18b. Brackets 18'a, 18b are integral parts of molded portion 12. Brackets 18a, 18b are suitably located to engage against a vertical corner of music box 14 so as to nest same in. firm position in the assembled casings 11, 12. Casing portion 11 includes a pair of elongated ribs 19a, 19b along its upper and lower horizontal walls. The flat faces 20a, 20b of ribs 19a, 1% are in the line of junction between the two casing portions 11, 12, whereby faces 20a, 2% press against a side wall of music-box means 14 upon assembly of the housing. These abutment faces 20a, 20b also contribute to nesting music-box means firmly in position in the assembled casing portions. As seen from FIGS. 2 and 3, the nested music-box means 14 is also buttressed by a peripheral ledge 21 in the interior of casing portion 12. The foregoing operative-1y associated structures cooperate to hold music-box means :14 in a firm and fixed position in the assembled housing. Such fixture of means 14 assures that its handle 15 passes freely through an elongated opening 22 in casing portion '12 so that handle 15 may be turned by a child to cause musical sounds to be made.

Casing portion 11 is provided with a peripheral flange 23 designed to receive the mating edge 24 of portion 11 so as to provide a registered assembly of the two portions. The two portions may be interconnected and held together by conventional means, such as gluing or heatsealing the plastic molds. At the bottom of housing portion 11, flange 23 terminates short of neck portion 16a, whereby upon assembly of the housing halves, and mounting same to the mouth of a bottle (FIG. 3) as described hereinafter, the top of the bottle bears flush against the flat bottom wall of the assembled housing. Prior to assembly of same, a hollow tubular sleeve 13 of suitable length is inserted into the vertical passage formed by assembled portions. The upper end of sleeve 13 rests along the rim 17a or 17b, as the case may be, and the lower end of sleeve 13 rests against the correlated semi-circular edge 25a, 25b. When assembled, edges 25a, 2517 form an opening 25. Music box-means 14 is also mounted in position prior to assembly and sealing of por 'tions 11, 12. With tubular member 13 and box 14 in position, portions 11 and 12 are mated and permanently sealed together. It will be understood that tubular member 13 may be glued to the contiguous rim 17 and also to the contiguous edge of hole 25. This substantially completes the assembly of music-box device 10.

As seen from FIGS. 1 and 4, the confronting edges of neck portions 16a, 16b are inclined at 26 to form diametrically opposite V-shaped grooves 27 (FIG. 4). Groove 27 serves to mount over the edge of a tumbler 28 as shown in FIG. 4 to support music-box device which is shown with a straw 29. Hence, a youngster may drink his milk while turning the music box handle. Straw 29 is readily inserted through tube 13 and extends through neck 16 into the tumbler 28.

As can be seen from FIG. 4, neck portions 16a, 165 are slotted to form grooves 27 so as to allow music-box device 10 to be positioned on the upper rim of a drinking glass 28. While sipping a drink thl'Ough straw 29, the child may simultaneously operate crank and keep the musical mechanism 14 in operation.

FIG. 5 shows that the outside diameter of neck 16 is selected to fit into the neck of a beverage bottle 30 or the like. Two small beads 31 are formed on the outer surface of neck portions 16a, 16b to provide sufiicient friction to hold device 10 in mounted position on bottle 30 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. This friction connection may be overcome by a manual pull-out force in order to disconnect device 1t) from bottle 30. Similarly, device 10 may be snapped into position on bottle 3% by hand. Straw 29 passes through inner sleeve 13 and thus may be used in various ways. It is understood that the inside diameter of sleeve 13 is suitably selected to develop a small friction pressure against straw 29 without crushing same. This holds straw 29 in set position with respect to device 10.

FIG. 6 shows an alternative use of the device whereby it functions as a musical toy attached to the top end of a thin wooden rod 32 or the like. Rod 32 is inserted into the formed neck 16 or even sleeve 13 and holds by a friction fit. In this embodiment, box 14 may be equipped with a straight shaft 15' adapted, for example, to carry a pinwhecl 33 which will rotate the music box upon being turned by the wind. Sleeve 13 need not play any part in the embodiment of FIG. 6. Consequently, it may be eliminated from this embodiment. Normally, sleeve serves as a long stiff support for receiving straw 29 to protect same against bending or crushing which would close the straw.

It will be noted that the assembled housing portions 11, 12 form a substantially enclosed sound amplifying box substantially larger than music-box means 14. This arrangement provides amplification of the sound made by means 14. To contribute to sound amplification, the side walls of both halves 11, 12 are provided with an outwardly spaced panel portion 33 to form a small region set back from the plane of interior peripheral ledges 21. It will be understood that this last-mentioned feature is optional and if eliminated, the entire side wall of each housing half 11, 12 is a fiat continuous wall coplanar with ledge 21.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing disclosure relates only to a preferred embodiment of the inventive music-box device and that it is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the example described which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. Also, the lower neck portions of the casing halves may have other attaching or engaging means provided thereon, adapted for application on containers other than those exemplified herein.

It is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. A music-box device comprising, in combination, a pair of casing parts adapted for being matingly interconnected and providing an inner space for lodging a musical mechanism therein, abutment means on at least one of said casing parts for holding said mechanism, one of said casing parts having a cut-out portion through which an operating member of said mechanism may protrude for manual operation from outside, each of said casing parts having a lower neck portion and an upper rim portion, said neck and said rim portions defining substantially aligned openings therein adapted for passing a straw or like member therethrough.

2. A music-box device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said casing parts has a spaced-apart portion therein for increasing the resonance of the device.

3. A music-box device according to claim 1, further comprising a sleeve member adapted to be inserted between said aligned openings for providing a passage for said straw through the device.

4. A music-box device according to claim 1, wherein said lower neck portions of the casing parts have a pair of diametrally opposite slots therein, whereby the device may be positioned on the rim of a tumbler, while said straw is passed therethrough for sipping a drink contained in said glass.

5. A music-box device according to claim 1, wherein said lower neck portions of the casing parts are substantially cylindrical and of a diameter adapted to be fitted to the neck of a bottle, while said straw is passed therethrough for sipping a drink contained in said bottle.

6. A music-box device according to claim 1, wherein said lower neck portions have an inner recess for receiving a pole or like member upon which the device may be secured.

7. In a casing for a music-box or the like, the improvement comprising a pair of mating casing parts adapted to provide an inner space for lodging a musicabox mechanism therein, one of said casing parts having an aperture 1 through which an operating member of said mechanism may protrude for manual operation from outside, said casing parts being provided with an upper and a substantially vertically aligned lower opening through which a straw or like member may be passed for sipping a liquid therethrough.

8. In a casing, the improvement according to claim 7, wherein at least one of said casing parts has an outwardly spaced-apart panel portion therein for increasing the resonance of the sounds produced by said mechanism.

9. In a casing, the improvement according to claim 7, further comprising a sleeve member adapted to be inserted between said upper and said lower openings so as to provide a passage for said straw.

10. In a casing, the improvement according to claim 7,

wherein said casing parts including complementary upper rim portions in the region of said upper opening and complementary lower neck portions in the region of said lower opening.

11. In a casing, the improvement according to claim 10, wherein said lower neck portions have a pair of coacting slots therein, whereby the music-box casing may be positioned on the rim of a drinking tumbler, while said straw is passed therethrough for sipping said liquid.

12. In a casing, the improvement according to claim 10, wherein said lower neck portions are substantially cylindrical and of a diameter adapted to be fitted to the neck of a bottle, while said straw is passed therethrough for sipping said liquid.

13. In a casing, the improvement according to claim 7, wherein said casing parts include complementary lower neck portions in the region of said lower opening, said neck portions having an inner recess for receiving a pole or like member upon which the device may be secured.

No references cited. 

1. A MUSIC-BOX DEVICE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A PAIR OF CASING PARTS ADAPTED FOR BEING MATINGLY INTERCONNECTED AND PROVIDING AN INNER SPACE FOR LODGING A MUSICAL MECHANISM THEREIN, ABUTMENT MEANS ON AT LEAST ONE OF SAID CASING PARTS FOR HOLDING SAID MECHANISM, ONE OF SAID CASING PARTS HAVING A CUT-OUT PORTION THROUGH WHICH AN OPERATING MEMBER OF SAID MECHANISM MAY PROTRUDE FOR MANUAL OPERATION FROM OUTSIDE, EACH OF SAID CASING PARTS HAVING A LOWER NECK PORTION AND AN UPPER RIM PORTION, SAID NECK AND SAID RIM PORTIONS DEFINING SUBSTANTIALLY ALIGNED OPENINGS THEREIN ADAPTED FOR PASSING A STRAW OR LIKE MEMBER THERETHROUGH. 